THE Ospreys have warned Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips about his future conduct following his altercation with the Rodney Parade crowd last Saturday.

Phillips was alleged to have sworn and made an offensive gesture towards the Newport faithful during the Ospreys 28-20 Magners League defeat and has been spoken to by his region.

“We have dealt with Mike,” said Ospreys backs coach Sean Holley. “It was borne out of frustration. You want to see all the passionate qualities you associate with a Mike Phillips performance, like the one he produced for Wales against Italy.

“But things did not go quite right against the Dragons and he did not react as he should have but we have dealt with that internally.

“We just have to make him aware of his responsibilities. Both Scott Johnson and I come from a teaching background but some of these players are young men, who are still learning things about rugby and life.

“Sometimes you just have to make them understand they are in the public eye and the spotlight is on them.

“Kids see them as role models and Mike understands that.”

Meanwhile, Lions team-mates Shane Williams and Alun Wyn Jones face a race against time to be fit for the Heineken Cup quarter-final clash against Biarritz in 10 days time.

Jones is on course to recover from the elbow injury he suffered in Wales’ Six Nations victory over Scotland but will miss the Magners League derby against the Scarlets on Friday night at the Liberty Stadium.

Williams is hoping to make the Swansea showdown but is still struggling with a shoulder problem.

“Alun Wyn Jones is coming on really well with accelerated progress,” added Holley.

“We are hopeful he will be fit for Biarritz.

“Shane is still a doubt and we are working hard on him.

“He is still a bit sore in the shoulder injury and is a doubt for this weekend.

“Shane has not had any shoulder problems in the past and there is a lot of bruising in that area.”